CASTLE COMBE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the remote Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 24.09.20
via ZOOM
Present:
Cllr’s: F. Winup (Chairman).
- Mackelden.
- Bettles.
- Blair
- Mrs. J Halliday
- Prior
- Ryall (Clerk)
Unitary Cllr. P. Whitehead
- Apologies for absence
Cllr Mrs H. Reeves, Mr. Botterill
- Declarations of interest:
Nil
- Minutes of the meetings held 16.07.20
It was proposed by Cllr Mackelden and seconded by Cllr Halliday that these were accepted as a true record. This was unanimously agreed by the meeting and will be signed remotely by the Chairman.
- Matters Arising:
4A. Area Board Meeting and Parish Forum.
Area Board.
Attendance at both meetings are cancelled until further notice.
4B. Parking Review.
- i) Road Markings.
Cllr Winup said the additional 20mph road surface markings at the six locations suggested by Cllr Jane Halliday are now in place. The invoice for this of £415.15 outstanding and the existing ‘cycling’ markings have not yet been refreshed. He said Jo Pattison, Wilts Council, advises that the existing double lines meet legal requirements and that financial constraints prevent repainting at this time. This was promised by Jane Scott in February 2019. Cllr Whitehead said the repainting season has ended until March and he will ensure that the yellow line repainting is included at that time. The Council expressed disappointment that frequent assurances have not been met and two seasons have passed without action.
- ii) Parking statistics
Cllr Winup reported there were 7 bookings in July, 28 in August and 71 observations with 10 minutes allowed for drivers to move. He thought this only applied to meters or parking bays and that 5minutes was the correct allowance which Cllr Whitehead confirmed and said that to avoid disputes an allowance of at least 5 minutes is applied on yellow lines across the County.
4C Footpaths
The Chairman said the Cotswold Wardens had agreed to repair the School Lane footpath which has now been kindly completed by Mr Hull from Old Dairy Drive enabling the Wardens to relay the Roman Bridge footpath when scalpings become available. Cllr Bettles said he would progress the Parish Steward for a delivery date. Cllr Winup said that the Council and the Cotswold Wardens consider that the Unitary Council should take action to repair the dangerous Crippleshank bridlepath where a villager recently broke a leg. Stephen Leonard, Wilts Council, has informed the Council that this cannot be done due to financial constraints. The Chairman said that the Council will continue to demand action as this is a safety issue for which the Unitary Council is responsible under the 1990 Highways Act.
4F. Market Cross
Cllr Winup said the estimated final cost remains at £87370 of which £4062 (retentions etc) is not yet payable. The one year defect period expires February 2021. He said he continues to progress David Newton (project designer) regarding the final documentary research, column monitoring and maintenance plan.
4M. Speeding on the Hill.
The 20mph speed limit has been implemented with further markings installed as per item 4B.
4N. Chapel Car Park
The Chairman said the registration of the playing field was still outstanding because the Land Registry being in arrears due to Corona Virus.
4P. Colour Slides.
The Clerk said he has contacted the firm and proposed that all of the slides are digitally copied and A4 prints made of those relating to the village. This was unanimously agreed by the meeting.
- Notice Boards.
The Chairman asked the Clerk to obtain estimates for replacing the upper village notice board.
6A. Smart meter -Village Hall
This has been installed.
6B. Playground & Village Hall reopening.
Cllr Winup said both playgrounds have been reopened with Covid 19 notices in place, automatic sanitisers installed and risk assessments completed. The village hall has reopened for approved use as per WHVA guidance, risk assessments are complete and additional stringent conditions of hire implemented.
6C. Wessex Water – Sewer Repairs
These are still planned in the lower village in October and all affected residents and businesses have been informed.
- Finance. £
Income
HM – VAT recovery 2628.23
Arkonik Ltd – donation 200.00
LV Insurance – Butter Cross damage 318.00
Expenditure
The Councillors checked and reviewed and approved the following invoices:
Cllr Winup – Whitegate benches 288.00
Cllr Winup – safety signs, reflectors, bolts etc 50.26
SSE – quarterly bill 22.41
Minerva Stone – Butter Cross repairs 318.00
Cllr Winup – bus shelter paint, goal nets, bin lids 105.61
Total floor care – resurface VH floor 2908.22
Cllr Winup – newsletter printing 36.30
PFK Littlejohn – external audit fee 360.00
- Ryall – printer cartridge 26.98
Cllr Winup – paint etc village toilet doors 38.13
Lloyds current account @ 25.08.20 £30784.46
Shawbrook Bank deposit account £1000.00
- Correspondence
6A. Cotswold Wardens – footpath to Castle.
The Clerk said the proposal was to develop guided tours of the Castle area by using the track from the river and building an external stairway over the earth works. English Heritage are supportive of this plan and are in discussion with the Golf Course owners. There are grants available for this from the Cotswold AONB for which the Council can apply. The Chairman recommended that the Council withholds its support until the outcome of the English Heritage discussions are known. The meeting agreed with this proposal.
6B Gigaclear – full fibre installation.
The Clerk reported that there was still no date for installation in the village. He said that after the installation problems in local villages a detailed discussion should take place about how, where and when the installation takes place.
6C. WALC – Planning White Paper
The Clerk said this had been distributed for comment and it makes significant changes to the planning system with widespread views that the system will be made even less democratic. The meeting asked the Clerk to write to James Gray voicing their concern.
6D.NALC – job retention & Covid fraud.
The Clerk said this had been distributed for comment. There is crackdown taking place investigating the estimated £3.5Billion of furlough fraud with 27000 high risk cases.
6E. PFK Littlejohn – external audit
The Clerk reported that the external audit was complete with no problems or adverse comments.
6F. Wilts NHW Assn – Community Neighbourhood policing teams.
The Clerk said the Association is seeking contact points on Parish Councils. Cllr Halliday said she was happy to do this as she looks after the village ‘Combe Watch’ and occasionally contacts the Neighbourhood Watch Association.
Planning applications
P.C. Approved:
Hans Farm – fell 1 Sycamore & 1 Ash tree.
Gables Cottage – 25% reduction Thuja tree.
2, School Lane – 30%reduction Hawthorn & fell Cherry tree.
P.C. Under Consideration:
Nil
PC Rejected
Three Gables UCC – change proposed roof material from thatch to artificial stone.
South Cottage – change extension material to stainless steel and internal alterations.
Unitary Council under Consideration.
1 Whitegates – discharge 106 order.
Three Gables – change proposed roof material from thatch to artificial stone.
Unitary Council – Granted
Fuchsia Cottage – 2 storey extension
South Cottage – change extension material to stainless steel and internal alterations.
Unitary Council Rejected.
Nil
The Clerk commented on the three applications recently rejected by the Council,
Fuchsia Cottage UCC – Single storey extension
This has been approved by Wilts Council
The mass of the building has been reduced but no information presented to the Parish Council
The planners consider that core policy 39 applies to the application and that the proposed tourist accommodation is appropriate to the location and that it is a tangible public benefit to the local economy.
Highways say that traffic movements will be minimal and the applicant has provided a parking plan showing an additional space. This has not been sent to the Council for comment.
The Council asked the Clerk to ask planning for the missing information.
Three Gables UCC -Replacement of thatched roof with artificial stone tiles
Still being considered with additional letter from Wilts Archaeological & Natural History Society recommending natural stone tiles for authenticity & durability.
South Cottage – Single storey extension & replace existing lean to extension.
Approved by Wilts Council with a zinc covering.
This was approved by the Parish Council in 2017 with stone walls and subsequently changed to stainless steel without informing the Council. Further applications in 2020 modified the extension and changed the covering material to zinc. The conditions applied are that the proposed drainage system is tested before further work takes place and that the new wooden fence on top of the existing stone wall is replaced within 6 months with a full height stone wall.
- Unitary Councillor
Unitary Cllr Whitehead said there will be no Covid Wardens in Wiltshire as everywhere in the County the residents & businesses have been fantastic in their response to coronavirus. He said the out breaks reported in schools amounted to one person in each school resulting in whole year groups having to self isolate. In this situation schooling is continuing outside on line using lap tops etc.
He said Wiltshire’s infection rate due to the efforts of everyone is low at 8.4 cases per 100000 people compares with the UK average of 50/60 per 100000 and he asked that everyone continues to behave well & sensibly.
- CC Circuit & Playing Field
CC Circuit – Cllr Mackelden reported that track days have resumed with Covid controls but no spectators present and that no liaison meeting has been arranged. Cllr Prior said he was concerned that an event had been organised using part of Westway lane resulting in the road becoming very congested. This would have caused a problem if he had been using tractors on the road that day. Cllr Mackelden said he would speak to the Circuit management.
Playing Field – Cllr Mackelden reported that matches are now taking place together with socially distanced football training. A revised draft new lease is being prepared.
- Play Areas
Cllr Mackelden said he had tidied up the lower area cutting back the brambles and noted that the sanitiser was still working.
Cllr Reeves reported that the refurbished Whitegates play area was being enjoyed by many and the picnic benches have gone down well. Cllr Winup said the two springers will need some repainting and the wood replacing in the rear future.
- 1 Highways
Cllr Halliday reported that:
The gullies on the hill and on the B4039 have been cleared.
The Parish Steward has sprayed all paths with weed killer and will scarify them when the equipment is available.
The report on the speed checks carried out on the B4039 before the lockdown is out standing.
The damaged 40mph speed limit near the golf club entrance has been replaced.
The Parish Steward has confirmed the salt bins are full and has removed any rubbish.
The Contractors, Iverde, have yet to cut back the carpark island shrubs.
Grittleton Lane surface is in a poor state and filling in potholes is now ineffective.
The edges of Ford Road are breaking up.
12.Village Environment.
Cllr Prior said he would again progress Wilts Council about the litter still at the playing fields entrance and showing names and addresses. Cllr Winup said that the owner of Bybrook Lodge has had the hedge cut back.
The Chairman said that the Council had received a complaint from a Whitegates resident about a further extremely noisy late evening disturbance by boy racers on the Car Park. Cllr Prior said it was very bad and said he would speak to the police and Wiltshire Council again. He thought the Council should consider CCTV and would ask the police about the legal position.
Cllr Winup said he would discuss cleaning the toilets with Wilts Council as the ladies cleaning the toilets will not continue after the clocks change.
- Whitegates
Cllr Reeves reported that:
The bus shelter has been subject to graffiti which she had painted over.
Tourists are using the bus turning circle for parking when the car park is full.
The car parking problem on the estate continues to be bad with the additional residents’ cars.
The children on the estate are interested in a wildlife are which should be discussed by the Council.
- TV. Committee.
The Chairman said that as a result of the lightning strike the topmast mast amplifier will be replaced.
- Village Hall
The Chairman reported that the refurbishment of the village hall floor is now complete. He said Cllr Mackelden had agreed to join the committee replacing Adrian Bishop who is unwell.
A Covid -19 grant of £10000 has been received making up the income shortfall.
- Date of next meeting.
This was confirmed as Thursday 19.11.20 at 7.30 p.m. probably by ZOOM video link.